MANILA, Philippines - ABS-CBN ended 2015 on a high note after the Kapamilya network ruled nationwide ratings from January to December last year (excluding Holy Week) with an average national audience share of 43% versus GMA 7’s 36%, according to the consolidated data from Kantar Media.

ABS-CBN also kept a stronghold of the primetime block whole year round as it scored an average national audience share of 50% compared to rival’s 31%. This means half of the Filipino viewing population in combined urban and rural homes tuned in to the top-caliber programs offered by ABS-CBN on primetime.

The primetime block is the most important part of the day when most Filipinos watch TV and advertisers put a larger chunk of their investment in to reach more consumers effectively.

Kantar Media uses a nationwide panel size of 2,609 urban and rural homes that represent 100% of the total Philippine TV viewing population, while the other ratings data supplier AGB Nielsen reportedly has only 1,980 homes based solely in urban areas that represent only 57% of the Philippine TV viewing population.

Meanwhile, ABS-CBN shows also dominated the top 20 list of most watched programs for 2015, 19 of which were produced by the network. GMA-7 has 'Magpakailanman' with 21.7 average rating to secure 18th spot.

Topping the list as the most watched program last year is “The Voice Kids” (41.7%) followed by “FPJ’s Ang Probinsyano” (38.8%), “Nathaniel” (34.6%), “Pangako Sa’Yo” (33.5%), and “MMK” (30.5%).

Having aired for over a month since it premiered last November, “Dance Kids” still managed to land on the sixth spot with an average national TV rating of 30%. It is followed by “Dream Dad” (29.9%), “Your Face Sounds Familiar Season 1” (29.8%), “Forevermore” (29.2%), and ABS-CBN’s flagship news program “TV Patrol” (28.2%) in the tenth spot.

ABS-CBN also fared better than its competition in other territories such as Balance Luzon (areas in Luzon outside Mega Manila), where it scored a national average audience share of 45% versus GMA’s 36%; in Visayas with 55% versus rival’s 27%; and in Mindanao with 54% versus GMA’s 28%

Kantar Media is a leading television (TV) audience measurement provider with capabilities in gathering TV viewing data in both digital and analog platforms. It is a multinational market research group that specializes in audience measurement in more than 80 countries, has 26 TV networks, ad agencies, and pan-regional networks subscribing to its ratings services.